Upper Committee Mulls Safety Issues

PETERSBURG – Upper Township Committee met Sept. 26 and discussed the on-going quandary on the Garden State Parkway at the Great Egg Harbor Bridge project related to turnarounds for emergency medical vehicles, fire and police responders. 
“I toured that site today, and there’s no place to turn around northbound on the Parkway at that spot because of the concrete barriers that have been positioned there,” said Mayor Richard Palombo.
“For any issue at Cove or Harbor Road vehicles can’t make the turn that would get them on the path over the bridge to either Mainland Regional or Shore Memorial. So it’s only a matter of time that we have the potential for a real problem, and we need open access sooner rather than later,” continued Palombo.
As a result, committee passed a resolution to authorize the township to contact state legislators for assistance fixing the problem. Township Engineer Paul Dietrich will follow through on the matter.
Recycling Rebate
Dietrich reported that the township’s share of the county Municipal Utilities Authority rebate for 2015 is $ 34,300. “We are below the MUA’s target of 35 percent recycling as are many county municipalities. The shore communities, especially in the summer with their many restaurants and bars, approach this target, but we’re doing OK at 29 percent,” explained Dietrich.
“However, we’d like to get the word out that residents continue to recycle as much glass and paper as possible so we can maximize our rebate figure. We’re going to ask our recycling officer to heighten awareness in the community and make it a real focus.
“By doing that, and if we can reduce what goes in the county landfill from Upper, we will get additional credits that could be significant, in the neighborhood of $12,000 in reduced MUA fees and an equal amount of the rebate,” he said.
EpiPen Alternatives
As an item of new business, committee considered alternatives to the EpiPen auto-injector.
“Speaking as a pharmacist, we are dealing with this issue both at the state level and nationally. Ampules and syringes are cheaper, but delivery is much more complicated than the EpiPen. The main point is that all personnel receive decent training since the Food and Drug Administration is very much looking at outsourcing of IV delivery by inadequately trained staff,” said Palombo.
“The difference in price is about $57 for a loaded syringe but about $360 for two doses of an EpiPen which frequently expires before we use them and we need to throw out,” added Upper EMS Chief Jay Potter. “Sept. 14 we met with Sen. (Jeff) Van Drew (D-1st) and briefed him on the need to draft clear state regulations for training for emergency medical services to give these types of injections. Other states including New York, Illinois, North and South Carolina, Washington and the District of Columbia already have these types of regulations in place.”
“Outside” Organization?
Committee spent much time on how to address a complaint by Kevin Grubb, that his football league has seen its contractual agreement for preparation of playing fields changed by the township school board. “We already have our budget and sponsors and these new fees are ridiculous and come after we already have signed this contract. It seems someone made a mistake about the rate to charge us as an ‘outside’ organization per a township ordinance,” explained Grubb.
After a lengthy discussion, Committee member John Coggins proposed that Grubb’s organization pay only for material to line the fields. The township, for this football season only, would provide manpower to line the fields for the remaining 11 weeks of play.
Historical Society Grant
Dietrich reported that the township’s historical society is finishing preparation of a grant for a new museum in the old Township Hall in Tuckahoe.
In response to a question from Coggins, Dietrich replied, “It’s hard to estimate utility costs, we don’t have a good feel for that yet. We need a consultant to estimate the costs.” Dietrich stated that under state law, the building envisioned to house the museum would not need to comply with accessibility for the handicapped provisions.
“This museum, in reality, is for the young and old, for people of all ages and we should have either a ramp or lift,” objected Palombo. 
Dietrich said he would work with the society to refine the proposal and probably be able to present it at an upcoming committee meeting. 
To contact Camille Sailer, email csailer@cmcherald.com.